The Advanced Front Air Bags and Supplemental Driver
Side Knee Air Bag are designed to provide additional
protection by supplementing the seat belts in certain
frontal collisions depending on several factors, including
the severity and type of collision. Advanced Front Air
Bags are not expected to reduce the risk of injury in rear,
side, or rollover collisions.
The Advanced Front Air Bags and Supplemental Driver
Side Knee Air Bag will not deploy in all frontal collisions,
including some that may produce substantial vehicle dam-
age — for example, some pole collisions, truck underrides,
and angle offset collisions. On the other hand, depending
on the type and location of impact, Advanced Front Air
Bags may deploy in crashes with little vehicle front-end
damage but that produce a severe initial deceleration.
The side air bags will not deploy in all side collisions.
Side air bag deployment will depend on the severity and
type of collision.Because air bag sensors measure vehicle deceleration
over time, vehicle speed and damage by themselves are
not good indicators of whether or not an air bag should
have deployed.
Seat belts are necessary for your protection in all colli-
sions, and also are needed to help keep you in position,
away from an inflating air bag.
The ORC monitors the readiness of the electronic parts of
the air bag system whenever the ignition is in the
ON/RUN position. If the ignition is in the OFF position,
or in the ACC position, the air bag system is not on and
the air bags will not inflate.
The ORC contains a backup power supply system that
may deploy the air bags even if the battery loses power or
it becomes disconnected prior to deployment.
70 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
Maintaining Your Air Bag System
WARNING!
•Modifications to any part of the air bag system
could cause it to fail when you need it. You could
be injured if the air bag system is not there to
protect you. Do not modify the components or
wiring, including adding any kind of badges or
stickers to the steering wheel hub trim cover or the
upper right side of the instrument panel. Do not
modify the front bumper, vehicle body structure, or
add aftermarket side steps or running boards.
•It is dangerous to try to repair any part of the air
bag system yourself. Be sure to tell anyone who
works on your vehicle that it has an air bag system.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
•Do not attempt to modify any part of your air bag
system. The air bag may inflate accidentally or may
not function properly if modifications are made.
Take your vehicle to an authorized dealer for any
air bag system service. If your seat, including your
trim cover and cushion, needs to be serviced in any
way (including removal or loosening/tightening of
seat attachment bolts), take the vehicle to your
authorized dealer. Only manufacturer approved
seat accessories may be used. If it is necessary to
modify the air bag system for persons with dis-
abilities, contact your authorized dealer.
76 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
Air Bag Warning Light
You will want to have the air bags ready to
inflate for your protection in a collision. The
Air Bag Warning Light monitors the internal
circuits and interconnecting wiring associated
with air bag system electrical components. While the air
bag system is designed to be maintenance free, if any of
the following occurs, have an authorized dealer service
the air bag system immediately.
•The Air Bag Warning Light does not come on during
the four to eight seconds when the ignition switch is
first turned to the ON/RUN position.
•The Air Bag Warning Light remains on after the four to
eight-second interval.
•The Air Bag Warning Light comes on intermittently or
remains on while driving.NOTE:If the speedometer, tachometer, or any engine
related gauges are not working, the Occupant Restraint
Controller (ORC) may also be disabled. The air bags may
not be ready to inflate for your protection. Promptly
check the fuse block for blown fuses. Refer to the label
located on the inside of the fuse block cover for the
proper air bag fuses. See your authorized dealer if the
fuse is good.
Event Data Recorder (EDR)
This vehicle is equipped with an event data recorder
(EDR). The main purpose of an EDR is to record, in certain
crash or near crash-like situations, such as an air bag
deployment or hitting a road obstacle, data that will assist
in understanding how a vehicle’s systems performed.
2
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 77
▫60/40 Split Second-Row Passenger Seats.....209
▫50/50 Split Third-Row Passenger Seats
With Fold-Flat Feature — Seven Passenger
Models............................216
TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE HOOD.........218
LIGHTS.............................220
▫Headlight Switch.....................220
▫Automatic Headlights — If Equipped.......221
▫Headlights On With Wipers (Available with
Automatic Headlights Only).............231
▫Headlight Time Delay..................221
▫Daytime Running Lights (DRL) —
If Equipped.........................222
▫Lights-On Reminder...................222▫Fog Lights — If Equipped...............223
▫Multifunction Lever...................224
▫Turn Signals.........................224
▫Lane Change Assist...................225
▫High/Low Beam Switch................225
▫Flash-To-Pass........................225
▫Interior Lights.......................225
▫Map/Reading Lights...................227
WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHERS......227
▫Intermittent Wiper System...............228
▫Windshield Wiper Operation.............228
▫Windshield Washers...................230
3
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 111
Traction
When driving on wet or slushy roads, it is possible for a
wedge of water to build up between the tire and road
surface. This is hydroplaning and may cause partial or
complete loss of vehicle control and stopping ability. To
reduce this possibility, the following precautions should
be observed:
1. Slow down during rainstorms or when the roads are
slushy.
2. Slow down if the road has standing water or puddles.
3. Replace the tires when tread wear indicators first
become visible.
4. Keep tires properly inflated.
5. Maintain sufficient distance between your vehicle and
the vehicle in front of you to avoid a collision in a
sudden stop.
DRIVING THROUGH WATER
Driving through water more than a few inches/
centimeters deep will require extra caution to ensure
safety and prevent damage to your vehicle.
Flowing/Rising Water
WARNING!
Do not drive on or across a road or path where water
is flowing and/or rising (as in storm run-off). Flow-
ing water can wear away the road or path’s surface
and cause your vehicle to sink into deeper water.
Furthermore, flowing and/or rising water can carry
your vehicle away swiftly. Failure to follow this
warning may result in injuries that are serious or
fatal to you, your passengers, and others around you.
418 STARTING AND OPERATING
Proper towing or lifting equipment is required to prevent
damage to your vehicle. Use only tow bars and other
equipment designed for this purpose, following equip-
ment manufacturer ’s instructions. Use of safety chains is
mandatory. Attach a tow bar or other towing device to
main structural members of the vehicle, not to bumpers
or associated brackets. State and local laws regarding
vehicles under tow must be observed.
If you must use the accessories (wipers, defrosters, etc.)
while being towed, the ignition must be in the ON/RUN
position, not the ACC position.
If the key fob is unavailable, or the battery is discharged,
see “Shift Lever Override” in “What To Do In Emergen-
cies” for instructions on shifting the automatic transmis-
sion out of PARK for towing.CAUTION!
•Do not use sling type equipment when towing. When
securing the vehicle to a flat bed truck, do not attach to
front or rear suspension components. Damage to your
vehicle may result from improper towing.
•Do not push or tow this vehicle with another
vehicle as damage to the bumper fascia and trans-
mission may result.
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) Models
The manufacturer requires towing with all four wheels
OFFthe ground. Acceptable methods are to tow the
vehicle on a flatbed, or with one end of vehicle raised and
the opposite end on a towing dolly.
520 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES